Saravana Kumar
I travel by a suburban train every day to reach my office. I have observed that several people cross over the tracks to reach the platform. Some people who find it difficult to climb the foot over bridge tend to take the risk of entering through the open space in the fencing/compound wall and cross the track or walk along the tracks, some distance, to reach the platform. Invariably even able bodied men, women and children resort to this practice during peak hours as well as during non peak hours.
While walking along or crossing the tracks, if they happen to see a train approaching the station, they hurry to reach the station and in their anxiety fail to see the train coming on the other track in the opposite direction. During the peak hours several local and express trains pass through at high speed across stations.
On the other side we have people who are in a hurry and without bother about the trains coming, cross the tracks without looking either side. Yet, if you venture to quiz them they are fully aware that they are taking a risk and that crossing of railway tracks is an offense.
This morning, I happened to witness a young man jump over the fence to impress the on lookers standing in the platform and tried to cross the tracks in order to catch the train. Unfortunately he was hit by the train which led to the end of his life. Though his action is unlawful, loss of human life drew a lot of pity all around.
The railway owned by the government has several rules on safety but implementing the safety measures are far from satisfactory. For instance, for all transport vehicles the carrying capacity has been determined and exceeding the limit is punishable.
All of us know and have seen on numerous occasions that drivers are penalized for carrying extra persons/exceeding the permissible carrying capacity in case of a goods vehicle. But this rule and penalty for breaking the rule seems to apply to common people and not to governments who make such rules primarily for safety reasons. Any number of people can get into the suburban trains as long as the gentlemen/ladies standing at foot boards permit, which itself is unlawful according to rules. In the case of state owned and private buses, the desire of the crew for their collection incentives is the limit for number of people who can get in and of course not taking into account, that they willfully do not get in but HANG OUT. We all know unscrupulous boys/men hang out in front to girls schools or women colleges but this is at its worse and at the risk of their as well as others lives
Similarly the railway authorities fail to ensure that the fences and walls that run along the length of the tracks are closed so that people use only the foot over bridge/subway to enter/ exit railway stations. There should be concrete action from the railways to prevent people crossing the tracks by ensuring that the tracks are well protected on either side without any break. After all, the tracks are laid in their property and preventing trespassing is also one of their responsibilities. Similarly over crowding in trains as well as in buses should be prevented and only the permitted capacity should be allowed.
If the states as well as central governments are greedy to fill their coffers at the risk of common men then they should never have framed the rules which they themselves can not practice. It is as simple as TNEB writing on the walls of their own offices that, "electricity saved is electricity produced" and more often than not failing to switch off the power after the office hours.
Solutions for these problems are available and if there is determination on the part of officials and their political bosses we can certainly achieve the ideal situation.
Taking The Law In Our Own Hands and Playing with Our Lives
Budget 2009-2010: A Well Balanced Act
Anshul Tewari
The budget is out and the wait is over. The much talked about suit case of the Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, opened in the Parliament this morning and the budget was read out. The budget affirmed the Government's commitment to social welfare programmes with something for everyone in it. However, it lacked long term stimulus for infrastructure and growth. Markets reacted sharply to the Budget, which lacked major annnouncements and tanked over 750 points. Pranab had promised inclusive growth and taking proper care of the youth's needs and aspirations.
"The government recognises the challenges," he said, referring to the global slowdown and the decline in India's high growth rate in the past year to 6.7 per cent from over 9 per cent in the preceding three years.
"The first challenge is to bring back the GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate to over 9 per cent per annum," he said, setting the tone of what is his fourth career budget. "There are signs of an economic recovery."
He said the other challenges included better governance and to ensure that the fruits of development reached across regions to touch the lives of every citizen.
The government will work towards simplifying the tax structure in the next four years, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
The Income Tax Department has also been asked to introduce the simplified version of the tax filing form Saral, called Saral 2.
Bowing to the long standing demand of India Inc, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has abolished the Fringe Benefit Tax and Commodity Transaction Tax.
However, Minimum Allocation Tax (MAT) on book profits has been increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, but with a provision of carrying forward the tax credit on MAT to 10 years from the current seven years.
Budget proposed to increase the income tax exemption limit for senior citizens by Rs.15,000, for women and others by Rs.10,000 each, while keeping the corporate tax rate unchanged.
The exemption limit will now be Rs.240,000 for senior citizens, Rs.190,000 for women and Rs.160,000 for others.
Budget Impacts
What becomes more expensive
Mobile phones
Set-top boxes
What becomes cheaper
LCD TVs
Footwear
Pressure cooker
Electric bulbs, CFLs
Drugs for heart diseases
Mobile phone accessories
Branded jewellery for women
Where is the middle class in it?
While some demands of the middle class have been met, some have not. But the budget is a rather commendable one. The tax slab has been increased which is a rather intelligent decision.
The Indian middle class faces problems from lack better and 'within the pocket' housing benefits, to lack of better basic facilities and judiciary. This budget has satisfied many and has worked the opposite for others.
Click here for the story Behind the Scenes
Click here to know What to Look for in the budget
Here are a few highlights of the 09-10 budget:
•The Gross Domestic Product increased by 7.5 per cent, 9.5 per cent, 9.7 percent
and 9 per cent in the first four years from fiscal year 2004-05 to 2007-08 recording
a sustained growth of over 9 per cent for three consecutive years for the first time.
The growth drivers for the period were agriculture, services, manufacturing along
with trade and construction.
•Fiscal deficit down from 4.5 per cent in 2003-04 to 2.7 per cent in 2007-08 and
Revenue deficit from 3.6 per cent to 1.1 per cent in 2007-08.
•The domestic investment rate as a proportion of GDP increased from 27.6 per cent
in 2003-04 to 39 per cent in 2007-08. Gross Domestic savings rate shot up from
29.8 per cent to 37.7 per cent during this period.
•The Gross capital formation in agriculture as a proportion of agriculture GDP
increased from 11.1 per cent in 2003-04 to 14.2 per cent in 2007-08
•The tax to GDP ratio increased from 9.2 per cent in 2003-04 to 12.5 per cent in
2007-08.
Annual growth rate of agriculture rose to 3.7 per cent during 2003-04 to 2007-08.
The foodgrain production recorded an increase of 10 million tonnes each year during
this period and touched an all time high of 230 million tonnes in 2007-08.
•While manufacturing sector recorded growth of 9.5 per cent per annum in the
period 2004-05 to 2007-08, communication and construction sectors grew at the
rate of 26 per cent and 13.5 per cent per annum respectively.
•Exports grew at an annual average growth rate of 26.4 per cent in US dollar terms
in the period 2004-05 to 2007-08. Foreign trade increased from 23.7 per cent of
GDP in 2003-04 to 35.5 per cent in 2007-08.
OUTLOOK FOR THE YEAR 2008-09
•Despite the global financial crisis which began in 2007 impacting most emerging
market economies, 7.1 per cent rate of GDP growth in the current year makes India
the second fastest growing economy in the world.
•Fallout of global slowdown on Indian economy were countered with fiscal stimulus
packages announced on December 7, 2008 and January 2, 2009 providing tax relief
to boost demand and increasing expenditure on public projects.
•Government accorded approval to 37 infrastructure projects worth Rs.70,000 crore
from August, 2008 to January, 2009 alone.
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•Under PPP mode, 54 Central Sector infrastructure projects with a project cost of
Rs.67,700 crore given in-principal or final approval and 23 projects amounting to
Rs.27,900 crore approved for viability gap funding in 2008-09.
•India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) to refinance upto 60 per cent
of commercial bank loans for PPP projects involving total investment of Rs.1,00,000
crore in infrastructure over the next eighteen months.
•In addition to RBI taking number of monetary easing and liquidity enhancing
measures such as reduction in cash reserve ratio, statutory liquidity ratio and key
policy rates, Government has taken specific measures which include extension of
export credit for labour intensive exports, improving pre and post shipment credit
availability, additional allocations for refund of Terminal Excise Duty/CST and
export incentive schemes besides removal of export duty and export ban on certain
items. A Committee of Secretaries set up to address procedural problems faced by
exporters.
•Record US$ 32.4 billion FDI received in 2007-08 and notwithstanding financial
uncertainty and slowdown, FDI inflows during April-November, 2008 were US$
23.3 billion recording a growth of 45 per cent over the same period in 2007.
•FRBM targets for the current year and for fiscal 2009-10 relaxed to provide
much needed demand boost. However, medium term objective is to revert to
fiscal consolidation at the earliest.
INITIATIVES AND ACHIEVEMENT
Agriculture
•Plan allocation for agriculture increased by 300 per cent from 2003-04 to 2008-09.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna launched in 2007-08 with an outlay of Rs.25,000
crore to increase growth rate of agriculture and allied sector to 4 per cent per annum
during Eleventh Plan period.
•Agriculture credit disbursement increased three times from Rs.87,000 crore in
2003-04 to about Rs.2,50,000 crore in 2007-08.
•To strengthen short-term cooperative credit structure, revival package in 25 states
involving financial assistance of about Rs.13,500 crore is being implemented.
•Interest subvention to be continued in 2009-10 to ensure that farmers get short
term crop loans upto Rs.3 lakh at 7 per cent per annum.
•The Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008 was implemented by
June 30, 2008 as scheduled. Debt waiver/debt relief amounting to Rs.65,300 crore
covers 3.6 crore farmers.
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•Despite higher procurement cost and higher international prices during the last 5
years, the central issue prices under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
maintained at July, 2000 level in case of Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya
Anna Yojana (AAY) categories and at July, 2002 levels for Above Poverty Line
(APL) category.
•Minimum Support Price (MSP) for common variety of paddy increased from Rs.550
per quintal in 2003-04 to Rs.900 per quintal for the crop year 2008-09. In case of
wheat, increase was from Rs.630 per quintal in 2003-04 to Rs.1080 per quintal for
the year 2009.
Rural Development
•The corpus of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) increased from
Rs.5,500 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.14,000 crore for the year 2008-09. A separate
window for rural roads created with a corpus of Rs.4,000 crore for each of the last
three years.
•As against 60 lakh houses to be constructed under Indira Awaas Yojana by
2008-09, 60 lakh twelve thousand houses constructed between 2005-06 to
December, 2008.
•Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Scheme (PEAIS) proposed to be
expanded.
•‘Project Arrow’ to provide new technology enabled services through post offices
to common man and support effective implementation of social sector schemes
like NREGS, while promoting financial inclusion.
Education
•Major initiatives including a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched to
universalize education at secondary stage in the year 2008-09.
•Outlay on Higher Education increased 9 fold in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. Ordinance
promulgated for establishing 15 Central Universities. In addition to 6 new Indian
Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Punjab
and Gujrat which started functioning in 2008-09, two more IITs in Madhya Pradesh
and Himachal Pradesh are expected to commence their academic session in
2009-10. 5 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) announced
earlier have become functional. 2 new schools of Planning and Architecture at
Vijayawada and Bhopal have started functioning. Teaching is expected to commence
from academic year 2009-10 in four out of six new Indian Institute of Management
proposed for the Eleventh Plan in Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.
•Due to revision in Educational Loan Scheme by the Government number of
beneficiaries increased from 3.19 lakh to 14.09 lakh and amount of loan outstanding
increased from Rs.4,500 crore as on March, 31, 2004 to Rs.24,260 crore as on
September 30, 2008.
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Social Sector
•Authorised capital of National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development
Corporation (NSKFDC) is being raised from Rs.200 crore to Rs.300 crore.
•Scope of the pre-metric scholarship for children of those engaged in unclean
occupations expanded and rates of scholarship doubled in 2008-09. Annual
ad-hoc grant increased by about 50 per cent as compared to earlier rates.
•Rashtriya Mahila Kosh to be strengthened by enhancing its authorized capital.
•‘Priyadarsini Project’ a rural women’s employment and livelihood programme
will be implemented as pilot in the district of Madhubani and Sitamarhi in Bihar
and Shravasti, Bahraich, Rai Bareli and Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
•146 lakh persons benefited under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
in the current financial year.
•Two new schemes – ‘Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme’ to provide
pension of Rs.200 to widows between age groups of 40-64 years and ‘Indira Gandhi
National Disability Pension Scheme’ to provide pension for severely disabled
persons.
•Widows in the age group of 18-40 years to be given priority in admission to ITIs,
Women ITIs and National/Regional ITIs for women. Government to bear cost of
their training and provide stipend of Rs.500 per month.
•22 States and Union Territories initiated process to implement Rashtriya Swasthya
Bima Yojana for BPL familities in the unorganised sector and 60 lakh thirty two thousand
persons covered for death and disability under ‘Aam Admni’ Bima Yojana (AABY).
Public Sector Enterprises
•Turnover of Central Public Sector Enterprises increased from Rs.5,87,000 crore in
2003-04 to Rs.10,81,000 crore in 2007-08 and profits grew from Rs.53,000 crore
to Rs.91,000 crore. While number of loss making enterprises came down from 73
in 2003-04 to 55 in 2007-08, number of profit making enterprises has gone up
from 143 to 158 during the same period..
•Government approved implementation of Guidelines on Corporate Governance in
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in June, 2007.
•Corpus of National Investment Fund created out of disinvestment proceeds from
Central PSUs stood at Rs.1,815 crore as on December 31, 2008.
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Financial Sector Reforms
•NPAs of Public Sector Banks declined from 7.8 per cent on March 31, 2004 to 2.3
per cent on March 31, 2008.
•As a result of initiating process of amalgamation and recapitalization of Regional
Rural Banks (RRBs) with negative net worth, 196 RRBs merged into 85 RRBs. The
Government has contributed Rs.652 crore for capitalization of RRBs upto December
31, 2008.
•Number of reforms undertaken in the last four years to deepen and widen the
securities markets and strengthen the regulatory mechanisms for these markets.
•The Companies Bill, 2008, undertaking comprehensive revision of Companies Act,
1956 to enable adoption of internationally accepted best practices, has been
introduced in the Parliament.
Tax Effort
•Comprehensive reforms of tax system both direct and the indirect tax system have
enabled the tax administration to enhance its functional efficiency and provide
better tax payer services leading to increased compliance. Rates of Union Excise
Duties and Service Tax rationalized for eventual shift to the Goods and Service
Tax on 1st April, 2010.
•109 marine vessels sanctioned for the Customs Department to prevent movements
of contraband goods across the country’s sea borders.
Administrative Reforms
•The enactment of the Right to Information Act at the Centre and in many States
ushering in greater accountability of the public servants.
•Recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission approved by the
Government has benefited over 45 lakh Central Government employees including
Defence Forces and Para-Military forces and over 38 lakh pensioners.
REVISED ESTIMATES
•The total expenditure at Rs.7,50,884 crore in B.E. 2008-09 revised to Rs.9,00,953
crore in R.E. 2008-09 showing an increase of Rs.1,50,069 crore.
•Plan Expenditure gone up from Rs.2,43,386 crore in B.E. 2008-09 to Rs.2,82,957
crore in R.E. 2008-09.
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•Non-Plan expenditure increased by Rs.1,10,498 crore in R.E. 2008-09 over B.E.
2008-09.
•Revised Estimate 2008-09 for Non-Tax Revenues increased from Rs.95,785 crore
in Budget Estimate 2008-09 to Rs.96,203 crore.
•Revised Estimates of gross tax collection projected at Rs.6,27,949 crore as against
B.E. 2008-09 of Rs.6,87,715 crore, primarily due to pro-active fiscal measures
initiated to counter the impact of global slowdown on the Indian economy.
•Revised Revenue deficit to be at Rs.2,41,273 crore (4.4 per cent of GDP) as against
budgeted figure of Rs.55,184 crore (1 per cent of GDP).
•Fiscal deficit to go up from Rs.1,33,287 crore (2.5 per cent of GDP) in B.E.
2008-09 to Rs.3,26,515 crore (6 per cent of GDP).
BUDGET ESTIMATES
•Total expenditure for fiscal 2009-10 estimated at Rs.9,53,231 crore. Plan
expenditure estimated at Rs.2,85,149 crore and Non-Plan expenditure at Rs.6,68,082
crore.
•Budgetary support in Plan B.E. 2009-10 in comparison to B.E. 2008-09 increased
for Department of Rural Development, Department of Road Transport & Highways,
Railways, Ministry of Power, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and
Department of Information Technology to meet the requirements of rural and
infrastructure development along with higher allocation for Ministry of Youth Affairs
& Sports and Ministry of Culture to ensure adequate resources for hosting of the
Commonwealth Games. Allocations to flagship programme which directly impact
‘Aam Aadmi’ fully protected.
•Rs.30,100 crore allocated for National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for
the year 2009-10. In 2008-09 employment of 138.76 crore person days covering
3.51 crore household already generated.
•About 98 per cent habitations covered by primary schools under Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan. Allocation for this programme increased by 571 per cent between
2003-04 and 2008-09. Allocation of Rs.13,100 crore proposed for 2009-10.
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•Rs.8,000 crore allocated for Mid-day Meals Scheme for the year 2009-10.
•Allocation of Rs.6,705 crore proposed for Integrated Child Development Scheme
(ICDS) for the year 2009-10. New WHO child growth standards adopted for
monitoring growth of children under ICDS.
•386 projects amounting to Rs.39,000 crore sanctioned till December 31, 2008 under
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Allocation of
Rs.11,842 crore proposed for the year 2009-10.
•Rs.7,400 crore allocated for Rajiv Gandhi Rural Drinking Water Mission, Rs.1,200
crore for Rural Sanitation Programme, Rs.12,070 crore for National Rural Health
Mission, Rs.40,900 crore allocated for Bharat Nirman for the year 2009-10.
•A provision of Rs.100 crore in the Annual Plan 2009-10 made for Unique
Identification Authority of India.
•RIDF-XV proposed with a corpus of Rs.14,000 crore. Separate window for rural
roads to continue with a corpus of Rs.4,000 crore.
•Interest subvention of 2 per cent on pre and post shipment credit for certain
employment oriented sectors i.e. Textiles (including handlooms & handicrafts),
Carpets, Leather, Gem & Jewellery, Marine products and SMEs extended beyond
March 31, 2009 till September 30, 2009 involving an additional financial outgo of
Rs.500 crore.
• Government to recapitalize the public sector banks over the next two years to enable them to maintain Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 12 per cent.
• Allocation for Defence increased to Rs.1,41,703 crore which includes Rs.54,824
for Capital Expenditure.
• Major subsidies including food, fertilizer and petroleum estimated at Rs.95,579
crore.
• For the fiscal 2009-10, with Centre’s net tax revenue estimated at Rs.5,00,096
crore and Revenue expenditure at Rs.8,48,085 crore, revenue deficit is estimated
at 4 per cent of GDP and fiscal deficit at 5.5 per cent of GDP.
http://indiabudget.nic.in
Homosexuality Legalized.... in India?
Fatima
The Section 377 of Constitution has been amended. Homosexuality has been legalized. This means a lot to LBGT community. The people ‘who defied the conventional bonds’ have now been giving equality in the eyes of law. An epic judgment, truly.
An epic judgment that when a ’modern’ fast forward country like USA’s 6 states have legalized same-sex marriage but a country like India has opened its arms to homosexuality between consenting adults.
A country so narrow minded in places that some people could be living in the ancient ages even now.
A country where it’s legal for a girl over 18 to marry a guy and is supposedly protected by law as they’re of legal age. Yet newly-weds are burnt, tortured and beaten to death when going ‘against the society’.
A country where brides are still set on fire for dowry.
A country where sex before marriage is still a taboo and virginity is not a gift but a duty that a woman is expected to uphold for the man she gets married to.
A country where “dating” is not really accepted by families. People have to hide their love.
A lot of well educated people are opposed to the above ideas too. It’s so prevalent. Everyday a new paper has a tiny bit of news stating that in some part of the country, a man and woman were punished for they defied the society.
What does legalization of homosexuality mean in a country that cannot for a larger part, handle freedom like freedom? A place where injustice still prevails and bribery is not the problem but the solution to all the problems…?
If you say all this burning and torturing happens in the village, then for sure this new amendment of law applies to the villages too. After all they’re a part of India.
Come to the city, interracial couples are frowned upon, “Aunties” and “Uncles” still look at young couples dating and disapprove.
Teenage pregnancy is a fact, not many people are ready to accept.
Indian society can be so incapable of handling freedom.
Let’s compare legalization of homosexuality to legalization of marijuana.
The people who smoke marijuana secretly will do it openly, if it is legalized. The peddlers, who sold the intoxicating drug illegally, will set up shops.
And those people, who had no idea about the popularity of the drug or those who never tried it, will now try it too.
Would legalization of homosexuality mean the same thing?
How many of us repulse the idea that 25 years later, our sons might bring home a boyfriend to introduce to us? How many hiss at the idea?
How many of us are actually shocked and horrified at the amendment of the act? Is this modernization…?
image: http://news.bbc.co.uk
We Did Accept 'Them': Homosexuals Now Equals
Anshul Tewari
Equality is now prevalent and Section 377 has been condemned by the Delhi High Court. The Delhi High Court today decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults. It clearly stated that the Constitution does not allow law to be held captive by popular "misconceptions" and prejudice. Invoking Jawaharlal Nehru and the Constitution's spirit of inclusiveness, Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar held that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, "insofar it criminalises consensual sexual acts of adults in private," violated the principles of equality and non-discrimination contained in Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.
On 22nd September 2008, Youth Ki Awaaz featured an article on Homosexual's being prejudiced and about why are we failing to accept them? The article condemned the fact that Homosexuality was unacceptable in India.
But now there is a sigh of relief, Homosexuality has finally been accepted. The Indian Gay community and activists rejoiced throughout India and celebrated their victory. The decision of the Delhi High Court will now be challenged in the Supreme Court of India, where this case will be tried.
Let's hope that equality prevails over prejudice. If the SC upholds the judgment of the High Court, we might see a little tiff between the Parliament and the SC.
Gay Rape, an Untouched and Harsh Reality
Rape is a traumatic experience for the victim, we all can agree on this, even if we can only fathom a millionth bit of the pain they suffer. But tell me, what would they go through if their trauma is not recognized? If it is dismissed as ‘impossible’?
Excruciating, right? The same is felt by the victims of Gay Rape. It’s not a new concept. It happens all over the world, but it’s just dismissed as though, something of this sorts is impossible. What would the victim go through, I cannot even imagine. We all associate Rape with a female victim and a male assailant. There are male victims too.
I used to wonder if something like this was possible, and my question was answered when I read, “The Kite Runner”. For the first few minutes, I couldn’t understand, how, why, and what was happening. Then suddenly, slowly, it struck me hard, really hard, what was being portrayed. Gay Rape.
It was fiction, but it is anything but fiction for the countless victims all over the world. I was appalled, shocked and sleepless when I discovered this facet of the gory act.
The stories are so horrifying, it seems so inhuman to let this all happen.
Firstly, thanks to the society, gays are not accepted, (hope the laws against homosexuality are repealed) so only a few, brave men have the courage to come out in the open and accept it, without the fear of their lives.
Secondly, even if they do accept, the small majority is not courageous enough to report rapes and abuses.
Thirdly, even if they muster up every ounce of courage in their souls and go, file a complaint, they are dismissed saying that this is impossible and even mocked at.
I’d like each of us to know that this is NOT an impossible act. Such abuses exist, and they scar the lives of innumerable young men all across the continents. I wish to appeal through this article, not to mock, ignore the homosexuals. It’s their choice.
To help them, listen to their grievances, to ensure such acts do not happen, and if, forbid me, they do happen, the rapists should be punished.
The law-makers should sensitise the citizens towards all these facets. This is all I’d like to say.
Don’t keep mum, go out, speak for yourself. Gay Rape IS NOT tolerable and neither is it a myth. Take a stand.
image source: http://www.generationq.net/
If You Have a Rose, Don't Crave for a Tulip
Navjeet Singh Sandhu
Whether Mr. Aamir Khan's message in 'Taare Zamin Par' reached the concerned cells of the parents or not but our newly appointed HRD Minister, Mr. Kapil Sibal has given ample space to the parents and concerned authorities to fit the age old idiom on the students.
Every child faces the same problem during his/her school days. Every 80 percent scorer is nagged - for not scoring 85 percent, every 85 percent scorer for not scoring 90 and every 90 per cent scorer for not scoring 95 and so. "I don't understand when will my score card stop defining me. I'm more than that." Numerous times I have heard these lines in the corridors of my school.Out of thousands appearing for the competitive exams only a few will top. So what if he is not my or yours. I don't understand when will our parents understand this? This puts me in complete agreement with Mr. Aamir - 'Why don't people breed race horses, if they are so excited about winning?
Why do they produce children? Yes. They are producing them, they are not letting them grow by themselves.
It is clear by the degree of law of living and learning that we learn by our mistakes and let our children learn from theirs. Let them make mistakes and let them learn. The early they make a mistake, the earlier they learn. There's no other easy way out. The more my parents tried to guide me and give me the idea of the path, more complicated they made it for me. It wasn't unless I tried to work and find things for myself that it seemed to work for me. My father learnt himself, his father too learnt himself and same will be with my children and with their children.
To bloom out as a flower, a seed has to come out of the soil itself. No-body else can do this.
If you are going to do it - you will hurt it and deprive it off its own strength. What wrong is there with the people when their children do average! "My son is average! You know how it feels." You fool - it feels proud. After all it's the average people who are running and ruling the world. The top ones are engaged in one or the other fields of their own with a question in mind that in no way or in the least way reflects or affects yours or my living. "The simplest of the things are the hardest to understand." For the first time this was said by Margret Thathcher. Now I could sense what she meant by it.
Tenth class board exams are over or may be over forever. The work that can be done by the students at the earliest is- take up an activity, a sport, join an NGO, learn some form of art, and the list is endless. The only point is - make your way out of this web. Show a good response during the whole annual year of your class and make the authorities feel that a free bird can fly higher.
Its time that we start educating ourselves with the help of schools rather than the other way - helping schools to educate us. After all we, human beings, are filled with passion and we read and write to fulfill our passion and not to become or do what others want us to do. Leave that for machines. Be human.
